Topic : rail safety

Awards vary in size and scope ranging from $500,000 to $2M , and include private corporations, academic institutions and public authorities. Recipients include Southern California Regional Rail Authority, Amtrak and New York Metropolitan Transit Authority.

New features include rotating scenarios illustrating the statistic that about every three hours in the U.S., a vehicle or person is hit by a train; and simplified navigation through six main categories, and "quick links" to popular pages from the home page.

Amtrak is the fourth railroad to join the Confidential Close Call Reporting System. Under the program, employees can report “close call” incidents that did not result in an accident without fear of sanction or penalty from the railroad or the federal government.

Prohibits use if it interferes with that employee’s or another employee’s performance of safety-related duties. Railroad operating employees would be permitted to use cell phones or similar electronic devices under highly limited circumstances.

Oberstar was the primary sponsor of the Railroad Safety Enhancement Act of 2008, which directed the Federal Railroad Administration to "make safety in railroad transportation the highest priority in carrying out its duties."

With the upcoming 2015 deadline for installation, positive train control systems are a main focus for rail operators. Train car technologies that reduce passenger injuries in a collision and other security systems are also in the works.